Biography

Tetiana Samolenko-Dorovskykh was the world's top female middle distance runner of the late 80s. Although born in Russia, she grew up in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine and rose to fame at the 1986 Goodwill Games, where she won the 1,500 metres. In 1986, Samolenko-Dorovskykh also won silver in the 1,500 at the European Championships and the 1987 World Championships were probably her best international tournament, as she won both the 1,500 and 3,000. At the 1988 Olympics, Samolenko-Dorovskykh won gold in the 3,000 and bronze in the 1,500. In 1991, she defended her 3,000 World title, but had to settle for silver in the 1,500 behind Algeria's Hassiba Boulmerka. The last international tournament for Samolenko-Dorovskykh was the 1992 Olympics, where she won a silver in the 3,000, while placing fourth in the 1,500. On June 1993, Samolenko-Dorovskykh tested positive for PEDs and received a two-year drug ban, which effectively ended her career. She later worked as a high school teacher in her native Zaporizhzhia.

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